From Desk Job to Top 10 Finalist: My Miss DC USA Transformation

I was one of those people who never had to worry about my weight. I could eat whatever I wanted, and I did—with no consequences. Exercise? I hated it and never did it. I was small but had no muscle definition. Then I moved to Washington, D.C., to work on Capitol Hill, and I loved my job. But sitting all day had its consequences—I gained weight. Technically, I was “normal” for my height (5’7”), but I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. My clothes were tight, and I didn’t like how I looked.

Last summer, I decided to make a change. I started exercising and saw small improvements, but it still wasn’t enough. Then I decided to compete in the Miss DC USA pageant. Having competed in South Carolina before, I knew the level of fitness required to be competitive—and I didn’t have it yet. I also knew I couldn’t get there alone. My mom found Walter Lewis online, and I started working with him in September 2015. From our first meeting, I could tell he understood exactly what body type I needed to compete in the USA pageant system. He created a game plan, and we got to work. We started training twice a week, then increased to three times, and eventually four days a week leading up to the pageant. In just three months, I went from 128 lbs to 114 lbs, but more importantly, I gained visible muscle definition. Walter didn’t just stand there counting reps—he trained alongside me, pushed me when I needed it, and made the workouts fun. I even ran my first-ever 5K (the Turkey Trot), something I never thought I’d do.

Walter also completely changed my eating habits. I used to skip meals all day and binge at night, often on junk food. He gave me a customized meal plan and taught me what to eat, when to eat it, and why. The combination of strategic training and proper nutrition made all the difference. By pageant time, my body was in the best shape of my life. I didn’t win the crown, but I proudly placed in the Top 10 at Miss DC USA—an accomplishment I couldn’t have achieved without Walter’s coaching. The compliments poured in, and for the first time in years, I truly loved how I looked and felt. The pageant may be over, but the journey isn’t. I’m still training with Walter, now working toward my next goal: a 6-pack for a future bikini vacation.